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Thailand · 10–14 days

Thailand: Bangkok, the north and the islands, in the right order

A short, honest guide to a first Thailand trip — when to go, how many days you really need, how to thread the city, the mountains and the beaches, and which coast is actually dry when you visit.

Thailand is really three trips in one, and the art is in the order. There's Bangkok — a hot, electric, street-food city of glittering temples and river boats; the north around Chiang Mai — cooler, greener, slower, with hill temples, night markets and elephants; and the islands — the turquoise-and-limestone beaches most people picture first. The classic shape is to arrive into the city, head up to the mountains, then finish with your feet in the sea. It's a superb honeymoon (temples and city buzz, then a quiet island to land on) and just as good for a group, where everyone finds their own thing.

When to go

November to February is the cool, dry high season — the easiest, most comfortable time to see the whole country, and the busiest and priciest. March to May is genuinely hot, building to the pre-monsoon swelter (and to Songkran, the mid-April water-fight new year, which is huge fun if you're up for getting soaked). The green season, roughly June to October, brings warm afternoon downpours that usually pass, lush scenery, thinner crowds and much better prices.

The honest catch most guides gloss over: the two coasts run on different clocks. The Andaman side — Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Yao — is at its best November to April. The Gulf islands — Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao — stay driest February to September and are wettest October to December. So the month you're travelling should decide which beach you end on, not the other way round.

How long, and how to shape it

Match the route to the days you have — and resist adding a fourth stop:

• 7 days — two legs, not three. Pair Bangkok (2–3 nights) with the islands (4 nights), or Bangkok with Chiang Mai. A week isn't enough to do the city, the north and the beach without living at the airport.
• 10–14 days — the classic loop. Bangkok for the temples, markets and food, then a short flight to Chiang Mai for the north — temples, a cooking class, an ethical elephant sanctuary — then fly south to one island group to finish. The best-balanced first trip.
• Add 3–5 days — go deeper, not wider. Stretch the north to Chiang Rai and Pai, add a second, quieter island, or slow down in Bangkok. Better than cramming in a fifth base.

Distances are long, so fly the big hops — Bangkok–Chiang Mai and Bangkok–the south are quick, cheap domestic flights that save you days on trains and buses.

What's genuinely worth your time

• Bangkok's temples and river — the Grand Palace and Wat Pho with its reclining Buddha, then Wat Arun across the water; ride the Chao Phraya express boats rather than sitting in traffic, and eat your way through a night market.
• Chiang Mai's old city — a moated square of temples you can wander on foot, the hilltop Doi Suthep above town, the Sunday walking street, and a half-day Thai cooking class that's worth every baht.
• An ethical elephant sanctuary near Chiang Mai — feeding and walking with rescued elephants at a genuine no-riding, no-show place. The highlight of the north for many people.
• The Andaman bays — the limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay from Krabi or Koh Yao Noi, a longtail day out to the Phi Phi islands, and a slow beach finish on Koh Lanta.
• The food, everywhere — this is a country you plan around meals: a bowl of boat noodles, a green curry, mango sticky rice, and a market dinner that costs less than a coffee back home.

Good to know

• Let the coasts pick your beach. Book your island for the coast that's dry in your month (Andaman Nov–Apr, Gulf Feb–Sep). It's the single decision that most changes your trip.
• Dress for temples. Shoulders and knees covered at the big wat and palaces — carry a light scarf or sarong. Shoes off inside temples and homes.
• Say no to elephant riding and tiger selfies. Choose a sanctuary with a clear no-riding, no-hook, no-show policy, and book ahead — the reputable ones are small and fill up.
• Getting around is easy. Use the Grab app for metered rides in the cities, take the express boats and Skytrain in Bangkok, and pre-book the domestic flights that link your legs.
• Cash, SIMs and the 7-Eleven. Carry baht for markets and longtails, grab a cheap tourist SIM at the airport, and lean on the ever-present 7-Elevens for water, snacks and top-ups.
• Pace the heat. It's hot and humid year-round — do temples and markets early, rest in the afternoon, and drink far more water than you think you need.

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Thailand?

November to February is the cool, dry high season and the easiest time to travel the whole country. March to May is very hot, and the green season from roughly June to October brings warm afternoon downpours, lower prices and lush landscapes. The catch is the coasts run on different clocks: the Andaman side (Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta) is at its best November to April, while the Gulf islands (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) stay driest February to September and are wettest October to December.

How many days do you need in Thailand?

Ten to fourteen days is the sweet spot for a first trip: two or three nights in Bangkok, two or three in Chiang Mai for the north, and four or five on the islands to finish. With only a week, drop one leg — pair Bangkok with the islands, or Bangkok with Chiang Mai — rather than rushing all three. Three weeks lets you add a second island or the far north around Chiang Rai and Pai.

Which Thai islands should you choose?

Pick by season and by pace. For November to April, the Andaman coast is ideal — Krabi and Koh Yao Noi for calm and scenery, Phi Phi for the famous bays, Koh Lanta for a slower beach. For May to September, the Gulf islands are the drier bet — Koh Samui for comfort, Koh Phangan for a mix of quiet and party, Koh Tao for diving. Don't try to island-hop across both coasts in one trip; choose one side and settle.

Is it better to ride elephants or visit a sanctuary in Thailand?

Choose an ethical sanctuary and skip elephant riding. The best places near Chiang Mai let you feed, walk with and bathe rescued elephants but never ride them, and don't run shows. Look for genuine no-riding, no-hook policies and small group sizes, and book ahead — the reputable ones fill up.

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